The late Syrian President Hafez Assad, who died of a heart attack at the age of 69 on Saturday, will be buried in his native town of Kerdaha, near the coastal city Latakia. A grand funeral is being prepared for the late pesident, according to Abdul-Wahhab Rashwani, secretary general of the Syrian communist party, and member of parliament.

Rashwani quoted speaker of the People’s Assembly, Abdul Kader Kaddura, as saying "in tears" that a grand funeral will be made to the late president.

Kaddura said the president had not concealed his wish to have such a funeral, according to the MP.

Reuters reported that the funeral will take place on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Damascus to receive the large number of world leaders and officials expected to attend the event.

Sources at the interior ministry expected that Damascus Airport will witness an intensive activity receiving the leaders’ airplanes.

Assad will be buried next to his son Bassil, who died in a car accident in 1994.